Centre concerned over ceasefire violations in Arunachal

July 28, 2009 15:09 IST

The government on Tuesday expressed concern over the violation of ceasefire agreements by insurgent groups active in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and said the matter has been taken up with the neighbouring countries to ensure that they do not give shelter to these groups.

"I concede that despite ceasefire arrangement with insurgent groups, violations do happen and we have taken a grave notice of this," Home Minister P Chidambaram said during the Question Hour.

The major insurgent groups active in Arunachal Pradesh are National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I/M) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K), especially in the Tirap and Changlang districts. The Union home secretary held discussions with the state government in March this year to review the situation, the minister said, adding that the government has strengthened security on India-Myanmar border.

On whether the insurgent groups were operating with the support of neighbouring countries, he said, "Successive governments have taken up this matter with the neighbouring countries and continue to take up with limited success."

"There is a new government in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh and our assessment is that the new government is more responsive than the previous one," he said.

"Many leaders of these insurgent groups take shelter in neighbouring countries and use those countries to bring arms in India," Chidambaram said.

Efforts of the state governments are being supplemented by the central government for carrying out intensive counter insurgency operations and providing security to vulnerable institutions and installations based on threat assessments.

"While supplementing the efforts of the state government in undertaking sustained counter insurgency operations against elements who indulge in violence and anti-national activities, the government has always been willing to talk to any outfit, provided its abjures violence and comes forward for discussions within the framework of the Indian Constitution," Chidambaram said.